Embracing Our Future Together

I am excited to step into the role of CEO of US Quadball (USQ). This sport and this community have been a part of my life for well over a decade, and I value this opportunity to serve you all in this new capacity. I know that not everyone was expecting my appointment, and I understand that some of you might be skeptical or have questions about this change in leadership. That’s okay–skepticism is healthy, and it shows that you care deeply about USQ and the sport’s future. I want to address those concerns head-on. My goal is to earn your trust through transparency, inclusion, and a focus on our shared goals. I believe that by being open in my decision-making, hearing all voices in our community, and keeping our common mission front and center, I can help turn any doubts into confidence. I’m not here to impose a vision on you; I’m here to build our vision together.

My Quadball Journey

For those who don’t know me personally, I’d like to share a bit of my story. I joined New York University’s quidditch team in 2011 after a friend tried and failed for a year to get me to play. I thought it was dumb–the cape and broom weren’t for me. Eventually, I folded, and, in the end, I stuck around all these years because of the incredible relationships I formed and the unique athletic opportunities it offered me as a woman in sports.

Over the years, I’ve worn many hats in the quadball world. I’ve been a player on club, college, national, and MLQ teams. I’ve coached NYU, Creighton, The Warriors, and the USNTDA. I’ve been the USNT Manager, New York Titans Manager, USQ (then IQA) Editorial Director, a conference commissioner, a tournament director, and referee. Most notably, I co-founded and serve as co-commissioner of Major League Quadball (MLQ). My quadball experience even led me to serve as the commissioner for the Premier Ultimate League, a semi-professional women’s ultimate frisbee league, for three years. That experience deepened my understanding of what it takes to run a national nonprofit sports organization–balancing the needs of players, managing staff and budgets, and growing a brand with integrity and purpose. Prior to all of this, I was a sales and marketing director for a co-working chain in New York City and the senior office operations director and project manager for Better.com. I have lived an array of professional lives.

I also want to share that I’ve spent much of the past decade immersed in the competitive side of quadball–playing on top teams and working behind the scenes to help build high-level events. That journey has opened doors for me that haven’t always been open to others. I’ve poured a lot of time and heart into this community, and as a result, I’ve become a familiar face to many.

But I know my path isn’t the only one–and it’s certainly not the standard. I have no intention of leading this league as if everyone’s experience should mirror mine.

I’m committed to doing the work it takes to ensure USQ is equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the full range of experiences in our community. I know that to some, my name may symbolize a system that hasn't always worked for them. I hear that criticism. I want to build a future where no team or player feels like they’re on the outside looking in. Where success isn’t about who you know, but about being part of a system that uplifts everyone. That’s not just a talking point, it’s a guiding principle for how I plan to lead USQ.

Clarifying My Dual Role with USQ and MLQ

I also want to be upfront about my continued involvement with MLQ. I understand how this might raise concerns about one person having too much influence or creating a "monopoly" in the sport. It’s a fair concern.

Let me be clear: there are no plans or intent for a merger between the two organizations. Nor do I have any intent to force the ideals and mission of MLQ upon USQ. MLQ and USQ are, and will remain, separate entities with distinct missions and leadership structures. While I hold leadership roles in both, I am committed to maintaining transparency and fairness. To help ensure that, guardrails have been put in place. These include structural boundaries, internal communication protocols, and specific expectations around how I participate in collaboration between the leagues. When joint initiatives occur or potential conflicts arise, I will be operating within a clearly defined lane, with oversight and input from others on both sides.

It’s also important to recognize that MLQ needs USQ to thrive in order to survive, and that has become even more evident during the 2025 MLQ season. MLQ draws much of its talent, community support, and growth pipeline from the college and club programs nurtured by USQ. Their success is intertwined, not competitive. My goal is to continue to foster a healthy relationship between the two that supports players, fans, and the sport as a whole.

Lastly, and similarly to MLQ, I will not be a player, coach, or manager of a USQ team while I hold the role of CEO. I will, however, continue to host local tournaments at the request of teams and officiate when necessary.

Embracing Teams Across the Spectrum of Competition

One of the most important things we must do is make space for both competitive and for-fun teams to coexist. Our teams have different goals, sizes, resources, and histories–and that’s a strength, not a weakness. But it also means that one-size-fits-all policies and miscellaneous waivers do not work for our league in its current state. We need flexibility. We need nuance. We need to empower teams to thrive in ways that match their context.

I plan to continue to move the league away from a model that assumes all teams need and want the same things. We’ll build structures that support different types of teams equitably. Competitive teams should have the pathways they need to develop and reach the highest level of play. Casual and newer teams should have fewer barriers to entry and feel confident navigating the season without being overwhelmed. That’s the balance we must strike, and I’m committed to building that framework with your input.

It’s also clear in addition to these two categories of competitive and casual, there is also the desire for a low to no contact version of the sport. I want to conduct additional playtests and figure out exactly how to add this version to USQ in a more official capacity. 

Prioritizing Recruitment and Retention

If there’s one priority that stands above all else, it’s this: retention and recruitment of members. Our sport can’t grow–or even survive–without players and volunteers. That means we must work harder and smarter to keep the people we have and attract new participants.

We’ll be focused on what keeps players coming back season after season: meaningful competition, fun experiences, a sense of belonging, and clear communication. At the same time, we’ll be building better resources for recruiting new players, helping college programs rebuild, and making sure club teams can sustain themselves long-term. Recruitment and retention aren’t just goals–they’re a lens we’ll apply to every decision we make.

As for an immediate action, I plan to create a sub-department focused entirely on the growth of collegiate players and their teams and create more opportunities for collegiate leadership to interface directly with USQ leadership. We need to be more hands on and more willing to listen to our younger audience as they are the future of this sport.

We are also going to develop more and better materials to guide teams and players through the season. Too often, teams have to figure things out through word-of-mouth or trial and error. We can do better than that. Expect more guides, templates, and resources to help you recruit, train, organize, and compete. Whether you’re running your first practice or planning your fourth trip to nationals, we want you to have the tools you need to succeed.

Committing to Real Fundraising

As many of you know, USQ is a nonprofit–and like any nonprofit, we need consistent funding to meet our mission and the aforementioned goals. That means we can’t rely solely on player dues. We need to expand our fundraising efforts beyond our current membership. And while pursuing more steady revenue streams such as equipment, merchandise, event ticketing, etc. is on the docket, we need the community to understand that nonprofits need to fundraise and community promotion of those fundraisers is pivotal. This does not mean players have to give, but it does mean players should promote.

We will be engaging alumni, businesses, and outside donors to support the future of this sport. That includes building donor programs, pursuing sponsorships, and exploring grant opportunities. Our story is powerful–about LGBTQ2IA+ inclusivity, community building, and innovation in sport–and we need to tell that story more broadly to find the support it deserves.

Building Stronger Communication Channels

I know you ultimately want to know every detail of what’s next. I will be spending time with the board and USQ volunteers at every level drafting plans for USQ’s short- and long-term goals. We will share those with our members at various steps in the process. These goals will not be drafted in isolation–we will seek community feedback, workshop ideas, and create mechanisms for input.

Whether you’ve been with USQ from the beginning or are just joining now, you deserve to know where the league is headed and how decisions are being made. You also deserve the chance to help shape that future. We cannot build trust without real, consistent communication between the league and our members. I want to open up that dialogue–not just between me and team leaders, but between you and every level of this organization: the board, department heads, and key volunteers.

We will be creating more structured opportunities for these conversations to happen. This might include leadership roundtables, open office hours, feedback forms, or working groups. We want to make it easier for team leaders to raise concerns, get support, and stay informed. No one should feel like they’re shouting into a void. If you care enough to speak up, we want to listen.

On a more informal note: I plan to post these personal updates–in addition to the usual slate of formal USQ announcements–throughout my first year to give you a better look at what your CEO and your organization is doing day-to-day.

I know this role comes with challenges and some of you are going to be hesitant to accept my appointment. However, I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. I look forward to righting the ship, and I’m stepping into this position with open eyes, open ears, and a deep belief in the potential of this sport, this organization, and its people. 

Amanda Dallas
CEO, US Quadball